Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 13th, 2017 3:00PM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeWe may be at Moderate danger right now but forecasters are skiing like its at considerable and we encourage you to do the same. The weak snowpack gives us no confidence in bigger or steeper features.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Monday
Weather Forecast
Temps will fell downright tropical tomorrow with daytime highs around -5! Winds will continue out of the SW in the moderate range at higher elevations.
Avalanche Summary
No new natural avalanche activity was observed on Friday.
Snowpack Summary
Windslabs should be expected in Alpine terrain along ridgelines and in crossloaded gully features. These slabs have become slightly more dense over the past 24hrs due to the sw winds beginning to increase at higher elevations. Ski cutting on Thursday on a steep S aspect was priducing minor cracking but releases. Below the upper snowpack windslabs there is a midpack that consists mainly of facets. The Nov 12th crust has began to facet out and decompose in many areas. As a result of the poor base, any avalanche that is intitiated in the upper snowpack will likely involve the entire snowpack.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Snow and wind over the past week have created wind slabs up to 20cm thick immediately below ridge crests on all aspects. These slabs are on all aspects as a result of the Northerly flow this past week.
Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopesEvaluate unsupported slopes critically.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
More likely to be triggered from thinner areas and step down to the basal facets and involve the entire winters snowpack.
Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 14th, 2017 2:00PM